I’ve Got a Feeling

Warning: this is going to get a little personal. For the first time in four years, I’ve decorated almost every room in the house for Christmas. I have a ‘real’ tree, decorative pillows, a poinsettia and my advent calendar. To me, these things are signs of the holidays. I’ve listened to Christmas music Every. Single. Day.

I am in the Christmas ‘spirit’. Folks have asked, what’s different this year? To be honest, I can’t quite put my finger on it but I ‘feel’ different. A little more joyful, a little more optimistic – a little more ‘merry’. You know what else feels different? The Collaborative! I’ve been a part of the Tampa Bay Healthcare Collaborative for almost 15 years. I’ve been a committee member, a board member and for nearly 7 years, I’ve served as the Executive Director.

You may have heard me share that I believe my role is a combination of the things I like most, my best skill sets. I have enjoyed watching the organization grow and change over the years in both subtle and not so subtle ways. But, there is one thing that will never change – TBHC is and always will be member driven.

Time and time again, you, our members and partners have shown me that we are meeting needs and even more, we’re adding value. I am sincerely grateful for that. Many thanks to those who completed the member survey – see details about the results here. Special thanks to those who participate on committees, serve on the board, attend meetings and events, and share what we are doing – you are the reason I keep going.

Let me assure you, we have no plans of stopping. In fact, the team and I spent some time earlier this month planning out the 2018 calendar. I am so excited (and a little awed) by the collective brainstorming. We will be celebrating 15 years of service with you in mind. I look forward to sharing our plans soon. In the meantime I hope you have a chance to spend time with loved ones, reflect a little and relax a lot. Hope to see you next year.